Biological Forum — An International Journal, 2(2): 25-33(2010) ISSN : 0975-1130
Diversity and distribution of aromatic plants in forests of Gorakhpur division, U.P., India
Abhay K. Pandey and N.N. Tripathi Bacteriology & Natural Pesticide Laboratory, Department of Botany, DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur (U.P.)
ABSTRACT : A field survey of wild aromatic plants distributed in forests of Gorakhpur division indicates 44 species of aromatic plants that belong to 32 genera and 14 families. Of which many are being used in day to day medical therapy. In addition to this the richest period for flowering and fruiting in aromatic plants was Dec.-April. Out of 14 families studied Asteraceae occupied top most position; however Araceae, Cannabinaceae, Capparidaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Polygonaceae represented only one species of each. This study indicates that the area harbors a high diversity of aromatic plants and their application as medicines may be exploited. Keywords: Aromatic plants, forests, medicinal value.
INTRODUCTION Madanpur (out of Gorakhpur Division), Madhualia, Nichlaul, Pakari, Tehrighat and Tilkonia are rich in species composition The use of aromatic plants has been out of focus of higher plants. The vegetation of forests consists of throughout the history. At present, this is a popular herbs, shrubs, trees and climbers. Trees, shrubs and climbers treatment strategy for a variety of ailments. According to occur throughout the year and form permanent vegetation, WHO estimate, about 80% of the population in developing while herbaceous plants mostly appearing during rainy countries depends directly on plants for its medication season, decreasing during winter and finally become (Kosalge and Fursule, 2009). India has a rich assortment of depleted in peak summer. diversity of medicinal and aromatic plants distributed in different geographical and ecological conditions in the METHODOLOGY country. Out of total 17,500 species of flowering plants in India only 1300 species are of aromatic nature (Uniyal et The present work is based on an intensive survey of al., 2002). In present study an attempt has been made to aromatic plants of Gorakhpur Division during 2006-2009; in collect the aromatic plants from different forests of which periodic excursions were made and aromatic plants Gorakhpur division with their collection number. Besides, were collected in flowering and fruiting conditions. The observation on habit, habitat, local name, flowering/fruiting dominance of aromatic plants was recorded on visual basis and medicinal uses in human welfare have also been made. for presence and absence of species. The plant specimens were assigned collection numbers; their localities and other Study area and Vegetations necessary field information were recorded in field data book. The forests taken in present investigation are situated During visit local name, medicinal and traditional uses of in Eastern part of Uttar Pradesh between latitude of 27º05’ plants by native people were noted on the spot and to 27º25’ North and longitude of 83º20’ to 84º10’ East. The confirmed with the help of literature. The specimens were division comprises Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and pressed dried, prepared herbarium and identified using floras Deoria districts. Out of which forests are only situated in (Srivastava, 1976; Singh et al., 2000) as well as by matching Maharajganj and Gorakhpur districts. The soil of this area their specimens lodged in departmental herbarium of is gangatic alluvial brought down by rivers like Ghaghara, Gorakhpur University and BSI (NRC) Dehradun. The Rapti, Rohin and Gandak from the Himalayas. The rainfall herbarium of collected plants was deposited to BSI, varies considerably from year to year. The monsoon rains Dehradun. commence during June and come to an end in September Enumeration of aromatic plant species but may persist till October. The minimum temperature goes down to 6ºC in the month of January & maximum up to Aromatic plant species collected from forests of 43ºC in the month of June. Gorakhpur division are enumerated here alphabetically along with common name and mode of application. The Gorakhpur Division is a tarai region has dense forest covers close to the foothills of Himalayas. All the Acorus calamus Linn. (Bach) forests of Gorakhpur Division including Achalgarh, Banki, A semi aquatic, rhizomatous perennial herb, rhizome Campierganj, Chowk, Kushmahawa, Kushmahi, Lehradevi, creeping, much branched, cylindrical, light brown, white and 26 Pandey and Tripathi spongy within. Leaves bright green, distichous, thickened heterogamous, purplish in terminal or axillary spiciform in the middle, margin wavy. Flowers light brown, densely dense cymes or panicles. Calyx modified into pappus. packed in sessile cylindrical spadix. Fruits oblong, turbinate Corolla 5, tubular. Stamens 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, berries. linear. Dried powder of rhizome is given to children twice The decoction of whole plant used to treat diarrhea daily in fever (Tomar, 2008). (Asolkar et al., 2005). Adenostemma lavenia (L.) O. Kuntze (Bhenguar) Caesulia axillaris Roxb. (Bangra) An erect annual herb. Leaves simple, opposite, oblong, An erect or sub-erect glabrous marshy annual herb. ovate, sessile or petiolate, crenate or coarsely serrate. Heads Leaves alternate, sessile, lanceolate, acuminate, tapering to homogamous, white, discoid, arranged in dense panicles or the auricled base. Heads globose, homogamous, flowers corymbs. Calyx modified into pappus. Corolla 5, tubular. purplish or white, connate together in compound head. Anther 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, brown with Calyx modified into pappus, axillary sessile. Corolla 5. glandular tubercles. Anther 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, dark brown. The extract of plant is used as diuretic, crushed leaves A mixture of this plant and khesari in water is given to applied to cuts and wounds, and also to treat bites of cattle in stomach disease; leaf is used in treatment of goiter, poisonous insects and caterpillars (Chopra et al., 2006). plant used in baldness and diarrhea (Asolkar et al., 2005). Artemisia nilagirica (Clarke) Pamp. (Dauna) Callicarpa macrophylla (L.) Vahl (Priyangu) An aromatic, perennial shrub, often gregarious, An erect shrub. Leaves elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, pubescent or villous throughout. Leaves ovate, bipinnate crenate to serrate, acuminate, upper surface wrinkled, lower to tripinnate, deeply pinnatisect, pubescent above, white cottony. Flowers pink in dense axillary, globose, cymes. tomentose beneath. Heads homogamous, flowers yellowish Calyx 5, companulate. Corolla 5, tubular. Stamens 4. Fruits white, sessile in sub-erect or horizontal panicled racemes. drupe, white. Calyx modified into pappus. Corrola 5, tubular. Anther 5, Roots yield an essential oil used in stomach disorder, syngenesious. Fruits achene. leaves warmed and applied to rheumatic joints ( Ambasta, Used in chronic fever, swelling and inflammations of 2006). liver also employed as tonic and stimulant (Ambasta, 2006). Cannabis sativa Linn. (Bhang) Blumea eriantha DC. (Kukuraunha) A scarsely branched, aromatic herb. Leaves upper 1-3 An erect, puberulous, aromatic herb. Leaves simple, and lower 5-11 partite, lobes lanceolate, serrate. Flowers petiolate, alternate, obovate or elliptic, apiculate, margin small, greenish white, dioecious. The male flowers in axillary irregularly toothed, membranous, pubescent on both panicled cymes while female flowers in axillary racemes. surfaces. Heads heterogamous, yellow clustered into axillary Fruits compressed, crustaceous nut. and terminal cymes. Calyx modified into pappus. Corolla 5. A poultice of leaves is applied externally around the Stamens 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, dark brown. anus for one month to cure piles (Tomar, 2008). Half cup of leaf infusions taken twice a day for diuretic Chenopodium ambrosioides Linn. (Banbhathuwa) (Chopra et al., 2006). An erect, much branched, aromatic herb or under shrub. B. laciniata (Roxb.) DC. (Kukuraunha) Leaves oblong–lanceolate or oblong ovate, obtuse or acute, An erect, aromatic, pubescent, annual herb. Leaves sinulate-dentate. Flowers green, minute in axillary and simple, alternate, variable, usually large, runcinate-lyrate terminal simple or paniculated leafy spikes. Perienth 5-lobed below and sub-pinnatifid, spinulose above, hairy on both enclosing the fruits. Stamens 5. Fruits utricle membranous surfaces. Heads heterogamous, yellow in dense to lax brown. panicles. Calyx modified into pappus. Corolla 5. Stamens 5, Used as an anthelmintic against many forms of syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, flattened. intestinal parasite (Mishra et al., 2008). Plants used against mouth disease of cattle. The Clausena pentaphylla (Roxb.) DC. (Ratanjot) essential oils used as antifungal and antibacterial agent (Asolkar et al., 2005). A small aromatic deciduous shrub. Leaves imparipinnate, tri-hepta foliolate; leaflets alternate or sub- B. mollis DC. (Kukuraunha) opposite, ovate-elliptic, oblong, lanceolate, margins An erect, annual, aromatic leafy herb. Leaves simple, crenulate, glabrous, gland punctate. Flowers yellowish or alternate, petiolate, elliptic-lanceolate or obovate, irregularly greenish white in terminal, downy panicles. Calyx and toothed or serrate, glandular on both surface. Heads corolla 4-5 each. Stamens 10. Fruits berry ovoid, orange. Pandey and Tripathi 27 Bark is applied to fresh wounds in powdered form for Inflorescence umbellate with at least one sessile head like quick healing (Ali and Dixit, 1989). spikes of spikelets. Heads globose or oblong, spikelets Colebrookea oppositifolia Sm. (Bantulsi/Pansara) oblong, brownish, 10-12 flowered. Stamen 1. Fruits narrowly obovoid. An erect, aromatic, spreading, white tomentose shrub with grooved, sub-quadrangular branches. Leaves elliptic, Decoction of whole plants useful in diarrhoea, plants oblong, crenate-serrate, acute hairy. Flowers white, small in diuretic, astringent (Chopra et al., 2006). clustered spikes. Calyx deeply 5-lobed, acrescent. Corolla C. triceps (Rottb.) Endl. (Apavisha) small, 4 lobes. Stamens 4. Fruits nutlets black. An erect, small, glabrous, annual sedge with small Leaves used in cuts, wounds and burns. Roots used rhizome. Leaves narrow, acuminate, spikes 3-5, ovoid or in hysteria and epilepsy (Ambasta, 2006). oblong, white aggregated into a compact head. Rachilla Curcuma aromatica Roxb. (Jangalihaldi) deciduous, perienth absent represented by bristles, scales or hairs. Spikelets, 1-flowered. Fruits nut oblong, ellipsoid A rhizomatous herb with a thick tuberous aromatic root and pale brown. stocks. Leaves linear, lanceolate, an apparent stem is formed by rolled up leaf sheath. Inflorescence raceme, flowers red Decoction of plants is given in fever, the root oil used in colour. Calyx 3, united. Corolla 3, unequal, tubular. for stimulating liver and to relieve pruritus (Choudhury et al., 2010). Stamen 1. Fruits loculicidal cypsela. Erigeron bonariensis Linn. (Bonaria) Rhizomes powder used in fever, contusions and sprains (Ambasta, 2006). An erect, hairy, deep rooted annual herb. Leaves simple, alternate, upper sessile, obovate-oblong, coarsely C. zedoaria Rosc. (Kachur) toothed. Heads purplish, in corymbose panicles, A rhizomatous underground herb. An apparent stem is heterogamous. Calyx modified into pappus. Corolla 5, formed by rolled up leaf sheath. Leaves alternate spirally tubular. Stamens 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, oblong, arranged, linear. Inflorescence spikes arise from the sheaths. hairy. Flowers yellow. Plants used as stimulating diuretic in febrile condition Calyx 3, united. Corolla 3, unequal, tubular. Fruits (Kala, 2005). loculicidal cypsela. E. canadensis Linn. (Jrayayupriya) Used as stimulant tonic, stomachic and relieve from An erect, slender, much branched, pubescent hairy joints pains (Chopra et al., 2006). annual herb. Leaves simple, alternate, upper sessile, narrowly Cyperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Hassk. (Mutha) linear or linear–lanceolate, entire, acute, base cuneate. Heads yellowish–white, heterogamous in elongated An erect, slender perennial sedge with horizontal branched panicles. Calyx modified into white hairy pappus. rhizome. Leaves linear, erect, spikes aggregated into terminal Corolla 5, tubular. Anther 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, solitary globose green heads. Spikelets lanceolate or ovate- dirty white. lanceolate, 1- flowered. Perienth absent represented by bristles or scales or hairs. Stamens 3. Fruits nuts, yellowish Decoction of whole plant given for diarrhoea and brown. dysentery (Chopra et al., 2006). Readily eaten by cattle. Leaves used in diarrhea Eugenia heyneana (L.) Wall. ( Kathjamun) (Asolkar et al., 2005). A small to medium sized tree. Leaves narrow, lanceolate, acuminate, glabrous. Flowers greenish white in panicles. C. monocephalus Endl. (Musta) Calyx and corolla 4-5 each. Stamens numerous. Fruits berry, An erect, glabrous sedge with slender, elongated crowned by cup like calyx-limb, brown in colour. creeping rhizomes. Leaves linear, acuminate. Spikes solitary, Root chewed for relief from tooth ache, used as sub-globose, white, spikelets 1- flowered. Rachilla vermicide, flowers used in inflammation (Mishra et al., 2008). deciduous. Stamens 3. Fruits nuts, oblong. Eupatorium cannabinum Linn. (Tangol-lati) Decoction of aromatic rhizomes used as diuretic, demulcent and tonic, also given in fever and diabetes An erect, suffrutescent, perennial herb. Leaves simple, (Ambasta et al., 2006). opposite, petiolate, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, coarsely serrate, attenuate at base. Heads purplish, homogamous in C. squarrosus Linn. (Motha) terminal or axillary corymbs. Calyx modified into hairy A glabrous, annual sedge with numerous tufted, pappus. Corolla 5, tubular. Anther 5, syngenesious. Fruits fibrous roots. Leaves arising near base of stem, usually cypsela, cylindrical, black. shorter than stems, linear, tapering in acute apex. Diuretic, herb employed as purgative (Ambasta, 2006). 28 Pandey and Tripathi E. odoratum Linn. (Ayapana) Hygrophila difformis Linn. (Sarpat) An erect perennial shrub, stem pubescent. Leaves An erect or decumbent, pubescent aromatic, annual simple, petiolate, opposite, decussate, ovate, dentate, acute herb with quadrangular stems swollen at the nodes and or acuminate, pubescent on both surfaces. Heads purplish, rooting below. Leaves petiolate, ovate, crenate-serrate on homogamous, in branched corymbose cymes. Calyx both sides. Flowers bluish white or purplish, in axillary modified into hairy pappus. Corolla 5, tubular. Anther 5, whorls. Calyx tubular, 5-fid. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 4, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, fusiform black. didynamous. Fruits capsule, narrow, sessile. Decoction of leaves haemostatic, aqueous extract of Leaves edible, used for poulticing wounds and in tooth shoots cardiac stimulants (Awasthi, 1991). ache, antioxidant activity (Debasish et al., 2010). Glycosmis pentaphylla Corr. (Karjeer) H. pinnatifida Dalz. (Godadi) An evergreen shrub. Leaves tri-pentafoliolate; leaflets An aromatic herb with tetragonous stems glandular, ovate-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, entire, dark green, pubescent, swollen at the nodes. Leaves opposite, oblong- glabrous. Flowers small, white in terminal or axillary lanceolate, sub-obtuse or acute, deeply pinnatifid. Flowers pubescent panicles. Calyx & corolla 4-5 each. Stamens 10. purplish, solitary or in lax spikes. Calyx 5. Corolla bilipped. Fruits berry, pink or blue. Stamens didynamous. Fruits capsule, sessile. Brush of stem is used for clean the teeth in pyorrhea. Decoction of whole plant taken in diarrhea (Chopra et Juice is applied for fever and liver complaints, leaves al., 2006). considered good antidote for skin trouble & stomach ache Lantana camara Linn. (Ghaneri) (Natrajan et al., 1999). A straggling or scandent, aromatic shrub with recurved Grangea maderaspatana (L.) Poir (Jhinki mundi) prickles. Leaves ovate or ovate-oblong with cordate or sub- A prostrate or sub-erect, villous, annual aromatic herb, cordate base, scabrid on both side, crenate-serrate. Flowers forming circular patches at the ground. Leaves alternate, orange yellow or pink in axillary, spicate heads. Calyx small, membranous 4-5 toothed. Corolla – tube cylindrical, 4-5. sessile, pinnatifid or lobulate, coarsely toothed, pubescent Stamens 4, didynamous. Fruits drupe, black. on both surfaces. Heads yellow, heterogamous, globose, solitary or rarely in pairs on leaf opposed peduncles. Calyx Used for itch, an antiseptic for wounds, decoction given modified into pappus. Corolla 5, tubular. Anther 5, in tetanus and malaria (Mishra et al., 2008). syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, pale brown. L. indica Linn. (Ghaneri) Half cup of leaf infusion taken 2 times a day in A hairy scandent shrub, branches-straggling, armed obstructed menstruation, infusion of leaves also considered with scattered, prickles. Leaves ovate-oblong, crenate- as stomachic, deobstruent and antispasmodic (Choudhury serrate, acute or sub-obtuse. Flowers white, purple or yellow et al., 2010). in axillary head or spike. Calyx 4-5 toothed, small. Corolla Gynandropsis gynandra (L.) Briq. (Hulhul) 4-5, tube cylindrical. Stamens 4. Fruits drupe purple when ripe. An erect, spreading glandular-pubescent annual herb. Leaves used as a cure for snake-bite (Asolkar et al., Leaves digitately pentafoliolate, obovate, acute, entire or 2005). serrulate. Flowers white, sub-corymbose, solitary in the axis of leafy bracts, raceme. Calyx 4. Corolla 5. Stamens 4-many. Leonotis nepetaefolia R.Br. (Dhompo) Gynandrophore present. Fruits capsule, oblong, dark brown. An erect annual herb with grooved, puberulous, Bruised leaves used in headache, rheumatism and other quadrangular stems. Leaves ovate, coarsely crenate-serrate, local pains. Seeds rubefacient and anthelmintic (Chopra et acute. Flowers orange-scarlet in dense globose axillary al., 2006). whorls. Calyx with 8-9 rigid teeth, teeth sharply spinescent. Corolla bilipped. Stamens 4. Fruits nutlets black, linear to Gynura nepalensis Benth. (Jali) oblong. An erect, annual herb. Leaves simple, longe, alternate, Inflorescence put in 50gm ghee, boiled to viscous paste ramale and cauline, lanceolate or ovate, obovate-lanceolate, and orally administered two spoon full a day for cough. unequally, tripinnatifid, dentate or entire, acute. Heads Plants boiled in mustered oil and applied over waist to pinkish disciform, homogamous in terminal panicled relieve pain, flowers and seeds used in cuts, wounds and corymbs. Calyx modified into pappus. Corolla 5, tubular. burns (Chopra et al., 2006). Anther 5, syngenesious. Fruits cypsela, brown. Leonurus sibiricus Linn. (Guma) Leaves used in digestion, lotion of leaf employed as An erect, glabrous or pubescent, annual herb. Stems mild stomachic (Kala, 2005). bluntly quadrangular. Leaves palmately pinnatifid, linear, Pandey and Tripathi 29 lanceolate. Flowers bluish-red in axillary whorls. Calyx Piper sylvaticum Roxb. (Pahari-pipal) turbinate, 5- teeth. Corolla 5, bilabiate. Stamens 4, A slender, creeping undershrub. Leaves alternate, ovate didynamous. Fruits nutlets, black. or cordate, caudate, shortly acuminate. Flowers spicate, Dried leaves and flowering tops diuretic, prescribed in greenish, spikes dioecious. Stamens 2-4, arranged in axillary hysteria and heart palpitation ( Chopra et al., 2006). and terminal. Fruit berries crowded in cylindrical spikes, Leucas aspera Spreng (Gooma). red when ripe. An erect or diffused branched annual herb with hispid, Fruits carminative, used in food preparations (Chopra quadrangular stems. Leaves elliptic-oblong, linear, et al., 2006). lanceolate, entire or crenate, acute. Flowers white in terminal Pogostemon heyneanus Benth. (Pachouli/Bhantwas) and axillary whorls. Calyx 5, striate, 6-10 toothed. Corolla A large aromatic herb. Leaves lanceolate, serrate-acute bilabiate (2/3). Stamens 4, didynamous. Fruits nutlets, or acuminate, base obtuse. Flowers white tinged with pink brown. in pubescent cylindrical spikes. Calyx 5- toothed. Corolla Juice of leaves applied externally in chronic skin bilipped 4-lobed, bracts foliaceous. Stamens 4. Fruits nutlets, eruptions and painful swelling, anti-inflammatory (Natarajan reddish brown. et al., 1999). Decoction of leaves given in cough and asthma (Mishra L. cephalotes (Wild) Link. (Gooma) et al., 2008). An erect, hairy, annual herb. Stem obtusely P. plectranthoides Desf. (Pachouli/Bhantwas) quadrangular. Leaves ovate, linear-lanceolate, crenate- A large aromatic herb. Leaves ovate, serrate, acute or serrate, sub-acute, and pubescent. Flowers white in large acuminate, base sub-obtuse, pubescent beneath. Flowers dense terminal whorls. Calyx striate, 6-10 toothed. Corolla white tinged with pink, in pubescent cylindrical spikes. 2/3. Stamens 4, didynamous. Fruits nutlets, brown. Calyx 5. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 4, didynamous. Fruits Juice of leaf mixed with honey is taken in cough, the nutlets brown. aqueous extract of leaves in constipation. Flowers and Decoction of leaves used as stimulant and styptic leaves chewed in tooth-ache and gum disorder (Ambasta, (Ambasta, 2006). 2006). Polygonum glabrum Willd. (Bihagni) Lippia nodiflora Rich. (Bhuiokra) An erect or decumbent herb. Leaves lanceolate or linear, A straglling aromatic shrub. Leaves ovate, crenate- shining, gland dotted, ochreate stipules, tubular closely serrate, base obtuse, decurrent, rugose. Flowers pink, in sheathing the stem. Flowers pink or white, in terminal dense cylindrical spikes. Calyx lobed or toothed. Corolla 5, panicles. Bracts tubular, glabrous. Perienth 4-5, coloured. united. Stamens 4. Fruits small, dry. Seed pyrenes. Stamens 6-9. Fruits nutlets dark brown, shining. Considered as stomachic (Ambasta, 2006). Infusion of leaves given in colic and as a febrifuge. Nepeta hindostana (Roth) Haines. (Bilaiyalotan) Root stocks used for piles, jaundice debility and An erect or ascending herb with quadrangular, grooved, consumption (Chopra et al., 2006). pubescent branches. Leaves ovate or sub-orbiculate, Salvia plebeia R.Br. (Bhu-tulasi) crenate, obtuse, base-cordate or truncate. Flowers bluish An erect pubescent annual herb with obtusely grooved purple, in long peduncled axillary cymes. Calyx tubular, 5 quadrangular stems. Leaves ovate to lanceolate, crenate, toothed. Corolla bilipped. Stamens 4, didynamous. Fruits obtuse base, acuminate, glabrous or hairy. Flowers white nutlets, light brown with white spot. to bluish-white in spicate racemes. Calyx tubular or The whole plant used as a cardiac tonic, decoction companulate, bilipped. Corolla 2-lipped. Stamens 2. Fruits used as gargle (Chopra et al., 2006). small nutlets, ovoid, brown. Ocimum canum Sims. (Bantulsi) Seeds used in diarrhoea, plant diuretic and anthelmintic An erect, much branched, pubescent, annual herb. (Ambasta, 2006). Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, entire or serrate, acute at both Siegesbeckia orientalis Linn. (Katampam) end, glabrous. Flowers white or purple in close whorls of An erect, branched annual herb. Leaves simple, terminal racemes. Calyx 5, bilipped, companulate. Corolla petiolate, opposite, ovate with cuneate base, acute, at the also bilabiate. Stamens 4. Fruits nutlets, ellipsoid, black. apex irregularly serrate-dentate, pubescent on both surfaces. Decoction of leaves used in epilepsy and hysteria Heads yellowish, heterogamous in lax panicles. Receptacle (Asolkar et al., 2005). convex with elliptic-ovate, glandular-hairy palaeaceous 30 Pandey and Tripathi bracts. Corolla 5, tubular. Stamens 5, syngenesious. Fruits Polygonaceae were represented by only one species. Out cypsela, dark brown. Pappus absent. of 44 species, 7 species belong to monocot family. During Said to be possesses healing properties in gangrenous excursions the species viz., Lantana camara, L. indica, ulcers and sores. Also diaphoretic and cardiotonic (Chopra Ocimum canum, Pogostemon spp., and Cannabis sativa et al., 2006). were found to be abundantly distributed throughout the forests while the species like Adenostemma lavenia RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Tehrighat, Kushinagar), Clausena pentaphylla (Pakari, Nichlaul and Kushmahi), Hygrophilla pinnatifida, The aromatic plants collected during investigation Eupatorium cannabinum, (Kushmahi), Siegesbeckia are listed in Table 1. It shows that species ordered orientalis, Curcuma aromatica and Gynura nepalensis alphabetically by family, place of collection with collection (Nichlaul) showed restricted distribution. Leonurus sibiricus number, intensity of occurrence, flowering/fruiting and habit/ was recorded from Sahajanawa and Gorakhpur while Piper habitat. A total 44 aromatic plant species belonging to 32 sylvaticum was reported only from Madanpur forest. genera and 14 families were collected from different forests Remaining species were distributed freely in surveyed areas. of Gorakhpur Division. Asteraceae showed 13 aromatic C. aromatica, G. nepalensis, P. heyneanus and P. sylvaticum, plants followed by Lamiaceae (10) however Araceae, were reported for the first time in these areas. Cannabinaceae, Capparidaceae, Chenopodiaceae and
Table 1: Aromatic plants of forests of Gorakhpur Division.
Plants name Family Occurrence Place of collection/Collection Flowering Habit (Common name) no . & fruiting & Habitat
1 2 3 4 5 6
Rhizomatous herb Acorus calamus Linn. Araceae Uncommon Doma forest, Kushmahi Apr.-Jul. or under shrub/ (Bach) forest/GKU4380 Herb undergrowth in Sal forest
Adenostemma lavenia (L.)O Kuntze. (Bhenguar) Asteraceae Occasionally Tehrighat forest, Feb.-May. Shrub/Along bank of present Kushinagar/GKU4348 canal, shady places
Artemisia nilagirica Linn. ,, Uncommon Nichlaul forest, Pakari forest, Dec.-Apr. Shrub/Along road side (Dauna)) Kushinagar/GKU4365
Blumea eriantha DC. Chowk forest, Achalgarh forest, Dec.-Apr. Herb/Dry waste (Kukaraunha) ,, common Doma forest /GKU4306 places, along road side
B. laciniata DC. Kushmahi forest, Banki forest, Jan.-Apr. ,, (Kukaraunha) ,, ,, Lehradevi forest /GKU4363
B. mollis (D. Don) Merr. Nichlaul forest, Madhaulia forest, Feb.-May. .. (Kukaraunha) ,, ,, Campierganj forest /GKU4392
Caesulia axillaris Roxb. Banki forest, Kushmahi Sep.-Jan Herb/In the field of (Bangra) ,, Uncommon forest/GKU4351 rice, shady places
Callicarpa macrophylla Nichlaul forest, Kushmahawa (L.) Vahl. Verbinaceae Uncommon forest, Madanpur Jul.-Jan. Shrub/Shrubby under (Priyangu) forest/GKU4338 in Sal forest
Cannabis sativa Linn. Banki forest, Kushmahi forest, Jan.-Dec. Herb/Along road side, (Bhang) Cannabinaceae Abundent Tilkonia forest /GKU4391 railway track
Chenopodium ambrosioides Kushmahi forest, Jun.-Sep. Herb or under shrub/ Linn. (Ban bhathuwa) Chenopodiaceae Uncommon Kushinagar/GKU4346 Along bank of canal
Clausena pentaphylla Kushmahi forest, Pakari forest, Mar.-Jul. Shrub/Shrubby (Roxb.) Dec. Rutaceae Uncommon Nichlaul forest /GKU4354 undergrowth (Ratanjot) in Sal forest
Contd.. Pandey and Tripathi 31
1 2 3 4 5 6
Colebrookea oppositifolia Tehrighat forest, Nichlaul forest, Dec.-Mar. Shrub/Shruby Sm. Lamiaceae Uncommon Madanpur forest /GKU4336 undergrowth (Bantulsi, Pansra) in Sal forest
Curcuma aromatica Rhizomatous herb/ Salisb. Zingiberaceae Occasionally Nichlaul forest/GKU4316 Dec.-Mar. Harb under growth (Jangali-haldi) present in Sal forest
C. zedoaria Rose. Banki forest, Tilkonia forest, Jan.-Jun. Underground shrub/ (Kachura) ,, Common Lehradevi forest/GKU4377 Waste land
Cryperus brevifolius (Rottb.) Kushmahi forest, Banki forest, Aug.-Nov. Herb/Grassland Hassk. (Mutha) Cyperaceae ,, Gorakhpur/GKU4372
C. monocephalus Endl. Pakari forest, Achalgarh forest, Sept.-Nov. ,, (Musta) ,, Abundent Gorakhpur/GKU4329
C. triceps (Rottb.) Endl. Kushmahi forest, Jul.-Oct. Herb/In Sal forest (Motha) ,, Uncommon Banki forest/GKU4370
C. triceps (Rottb.) Endl. Kushmahi forest, Doma forest, Sept.-Nov. Herb/Grassland (Apavisha) ,, ,, Gorakhpur/GKU4327
Erigeron bonariensis Linn. Kushmahi forest, Kushinagar, Mar.-Aug. ,, (Bonaria) Asteraceae Common Achalgarh forest/GKU4305
E. conadensis Linn. Banki forest, Kushinagar, Jun.-Sept. Herb/Grassland (Jarayupriya) Asteraceae Common Gorakhpur/GKU4303
Eugenia heyneana Shrub/Shrubby (L.) Wall. Myrtaceae ,, Tehrighat forest, Madhaulia forest, May.-Aug. undergrowth (Kathjamun) Kushmahi forest /GKU4375 in Sal forest
Eupatorium cannabinum Herb/Herb Linn. Asteraceae Occasionally Kushmahi forest/GKU4335 Jan.-Apr. undergrowth (Tangol-lati) present in Sal forest
Eupatorium odoratum Shrub/Shrubby Linn. Asteraceae Common Chowk forest, Nichlaul forest, Dec.-Apr. undergrowth (Ayapana) Kushmahi forest/GKU4347 in Sal forest
Glycosmis pentaphylla Shrub/Shrubby (Retz.) Corr; Hook. Nichlaul forest, Kushinagar, Aug.-Dec. undergrowth in Sal (Karjeer) Rutaceae ,, Campeirganj forest/GKU4345 forest, along road side
Grangea maderaspatana Kushmahi forest, Dec.-May. Herb/Along bank of (L.) Poir. (Jhinkimundi) Asteraceae Uncommon Kushinagar/GKU4344 pond, shady places
Gynandropsis gynandra Banki forest, Gorakhpur, Jul.-Oct. Herb/Along bank of (L). Briq. (Hulhul) Capparidaceae Common Kushmahawa forest/GKU4350 pond, shady places
Gynura nepalensis DC. Occasionally Nichlaul forest/GKU4366 Nov.-Feb. Herb/Shady places, (Jali) Asteraceae present along road side
Hygrophilla difformis Achalgarh forest, Doma forest, Aug.-Mar. Herb/Shady places, Linn. (Sarpat) Acanthaceae Uncommon Kushinagar/GKU4309 along bank of rice field
H. pinnatifida Dalz. Occasionally Kushmahi forest/GKU4343 Jab.-Mar. Herb/Along bank (Godadi) ,, present of canal
Lantana camara Linn. Banki forest, Nichlaul forest, Jan.-Dec. Shrub/Along road side, (Ghaneri) Verbenaceae Abundent Gorakhpur/GKU4376 railway tract.
L. indica Roxb. Madhaulia forest, Doma forest, Oct.-Dec. ,, (Ghaneri) ,, ,, Gorakhpur/GKU4355
Leonotis nepetaefolia Kushmahi forest, Achalgarh forest, Dec.-Mar. ,, R. Br. (Dhompo) Lamiaceae Common Nichalul forest/GKU4314
Contd.. 32 Pandey and Tripathi
1 2 3 4 5 6
Leonurus sibiricus Linn. Gorakhpur, ,, Herb/Dry sandy places, (Guma) ,, Uncommon Sahajanawa/GKU4357 along road side.
Leucas aspera Spreng. Tehrighat forest, Doma May.-Jul. Herb/Cultivated field (Goma) ,, Abundent forest/GKU4312
Leucas cephalotes Spreng. Chowk forest, Banki forest, Jul.Sep. Herb/Moist sandy places (Goma) Lamiaceae Common Kushmahawa forest /GKU4320
Lippia nodiflora Rich. Kushmahi forest, Pakari forest, Jan.-Jul. Shrub/Shady places, (Buuiokra) Verbenaceae ,, Gorakhpur/GKU4331 along road side
Nepeta hindostana Linn. Madanpur forest, Kushmahi forest, Jan.-Feb. Herb/Damp places (Bilaiyalotan) Lamiaceae Common Gorakhpur/GKU4322
Ocimum canum Sims. Kushmahi forest, Gorakhpur, Dec.-Mar. Herb/Waste places (Bantulsi) ,, Abundent Chowk forest /GKU4368
Piper sylvaticum Roxb. Occasionally Madanpur/GKU4353 Jul.-Aug. Climber/In babul forest, (Pahari-pipal) Piperaceae Present Dec.-Jan. along railway tract
Pogostemon heyneanus Kushmahi forest, Chowk forest, Jan.-Apr. Shrub/Shady places, Benth.(Pachouli) Lamiaceae Abundent Nichlaul forest /GKU4341 along roade side
P. plectranthoides Desf. Doma forest, Pakari forest, ,, ,, (Pachouli) ,, ,, Madhaulia forest/GKU4326
Polygonum glabrum Willd. Kushmahi forest, Tilkonia forest, Sept.-Apr. Herb/Shady moist (Bihagni) Polygonaceae Common Gorakhpur/GKU4379 places
Salvia plebeia R. Br. Lamiaceae Uncomon Achalgarh forest, Tehrighat forest, Jan.-May. Herb/Along road side, (Bhu-tulasi) Kushinagar/GKU 4307 Cultivated field
Siegesbeckia orientalis Linn. Occasionally Nichlaul forest/GKU4378 Oct.-Jan. Herb/Along road side (Katampam) Asteraceae present
Flowering and fruiting periods are the most important stage in life cycle of plant species. Seasonal flowering and fruiting elated life cycle of aromatic plants. It will assure their proper distribution and maintained their diversity in that region. The study revealed that most of the aromatic species were found to be flowering and fruiting during winter to summer transition (Table 1). The seasonal variations in flowering and fruiting observed in this study did not follow the earlier records (Ali and Dixit, 1986; Bhatt and Bhatt, 2007). This may be due to change in climatic condition because various phenological characters of plant species are regulated by environmental factors. The plant materials either fresh or dried are being used in many ways. Fresh materials are usually taken orally or applied externally after being pounded. Recently workers reported the curative properties of ethno medicinal plants in skin disease ailment (Khumbmayung et al., 2005; Tripathi and Srivastava, 2010). The present study revealed that frequent use of aromatic plants is to treat gastrointestinal disorders including stomach ache, ulcers, diarrhoea, rheumatism and tooth ache. Some species like Blumea eriantha, E. cannabinum and L. sibiricus are diuretic used in hysteria, as purgative and heart palpitation. Further the Pandey and Tripathi 33 plants are used in treatment of respiratory tracts disorder Communication Dr K S Krishnan Marg New Delhi. (Cough, Bronchitis and cold) which are generally Awasthi, A.K. (1991). Ethnobotanical studies of the Negrito Islanders administered by gargling or by drinking a decoction. An of Andaman Islands, India- The great Andmanese. Economic interesting remedy is the use of Leonotis nepetaefolia Botany, 45: 274-280. inflorescence in treatment of cough. The Inflorescence put Bhatt, B. & Bhatt, N. (2007). Floristic and Phenological analysis of ground vegetation grown under Eucalyptus hybrid and in 50gm ghee, boiled to viscous paste and orally Dalbergia sisso plantation. J. Indian Bot. Soc., 86: 123- administered two spoon full a day for cough. Plants boiled 128. in mustered oil and applied over waist to relieve pain. Chopra, R.N. ; Nayar, S.L. & Chopra, I.C. (2006). Glossary of Science engaged in multipurpose utilization of aromatic Indian Medicinal Plants, Publishers National Institute of Science Communication Dr K S Krishnan Marg New Delhi. plants which may lead to decrease in species abundance and finally, even to local extinction. Plant species such as Choudhury, M.D. ; Bawari, M. & Singha, L.S. (2010). Some Antipyretic Ethno-medicinal Plants of Manipuri community A. lavenia, C. aromatica, E. cannabinum, G. nepalensis, of Barak Valley, Assam, India. Ethnobotanical Leaflets,14: H. pinnatifida, P. sylvaticum and S. orientalis were found 21-28. to be occasionally distributed in the forests of Gorakhpur Debasish, D. ; Ghosh, S. ; Roy, A.K. ; Haque, R. & Samanta, S. Division. The medicinal and aromatic plants have future (2010). Study of antioxidant activity of Hygrophila potential to develop herbal medicines for various disease difformis. Int. J. Drug Dev. & Res., 2: 113-120. ailments. So people should have knowledge the importance Kala, C.P. (2005) Ethnomedicinal botany of the Apatani in the of plant species in the community. By applying this, a Eastern Himalayan region of India. Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, 1: 11. sustainable system should be developed for conservation Khumbmayung, A.D. ; Khan ; M.L. & Tripathi, R.S. (2005). of aromatic plants. Hopefully this study will positively Ethnomedicinal plants in the sacred groves of Manipur. contribute to further research and conservation of aromatic Indian J Traditional Knowledge, 4: 21-32. plant resources as well as to represent important assets to Kosalge, S.B. & Fursule ; R.A. (2009) Investigation on the health care. ethnomedicinal claims of some plants used by tribals of Satpuda Hills in India. J Ethanopharmacol, 121: 456-461. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Mishra, S.B. ; Dwivedi, S. ; Shashi, A. & Prajapati, K. (2008). Ethnomedicinal Uses of Some Plant Species by Ethnic and Financial assistance provided by CST UP Lucknow is Rural Peoples of the Salem District of Tamilnadu with duly recognized. Authors are thankful to Head, Department Special Reference to the Conservation of Vanishing Species. of Botany, DDU Gorakhpur University for providing Ethnobotanical Leaflets, 12: 873-87. necessary lab facility and to the staff of BSI, Dehradun to Natrajan, B. ; Paulsen, B.S. & Pushpangadan, P. (1999). An ethnopharmacological study from the Coimbatore district, validate the authentication of plant specimens. Tamilnadu India: Traditional knowledge compared with modern biological science. Pharm. Bio., 37: 378-390. REFERENCES Singh, N.P. ; Karthikeyan, S. ; Lashminarasimhan, P. & Prasanna, Ali, S.J. and Dixit, S.N. (1986). Phenological observation on P.V. (2000). Flora of Maharashtra State, (Botanical Survey of India, Calcutta). the flora of A Sub-Himalayan Forest. Res. J. Pl. Environ., 3: 37-44. Srivastava, T.N. (1976). Flora Gorakhpurensis, Today & Tomarrow Printers and Publishers, New Delhi. Ali, S.J. & Dixit, S.N. (1989). Survey of medicinal plants of A Sub- Himalayan Forest. Bio Journal, 1: 13-18. Tomar, A. (2008). Some folk medicinal plants in Muzaffarnagar district of Western Utter Pradesh India. J. Indian Bot Soc., Ambasta, S.P. (2006). The useful plants of India, Publishers National 87: 200-208. Institute of Science Communication Dr K S Krishnan Marg New Delhi. Tripathi, S.C. & Srivastava, M. (2010). Ethnomedicinal flora of Euphorbiaceae used in dermatological problems. Indian J Asolkar, L.V., Kakkar, K.K. & Chakre, O.J. (2005). Second Traditional Knowledge, 9: 318-320. supplement to Glossary on Indian Medicinal Plants with Active Principles, Publishers National Institute of Science Uniyal, S.K. ; Awasthi, A. & Rawat, G.S. (2002). Current status and distribution of commercially exploited medicinal and aromatic plants in upper Gori valley, Kumaon Himalaya, Uttaranchal. Current Science, 82: 1246-1252.